A Pearl Beyond Price 6: A reason for malice
The Great Smials 6
Pearl looked with consternation at Ferumbras. She wondered what the Thain was going to say to her. She had not spoken much with him and he certainly had not discussed his relationship wit his mother with her. She wondered what being raised by Lalia and kept under her control until he was an old man must have been like. The girl shuddered at this thought.
Ferumbras sighed and said, "Don't worry, child. I do not blame you. You have shown great fortitude by enduring Lalia with as much grace as you did. I am just surprise that something like this did not happen earlier."
Despite herself, Pearl began to cry and said, "I am so sorry, Thain Ferumbras. I know it was an accident but it still took a life. I took a life through my carelessness. I know I will be shunned."
Ferumbras, to Pearl's surprise, looked guilty and did not meet her eyes. She knew that meant her surmise was correct, as she knew it was, but that he was unhappy about what he must do to fulfill the expectations of Hobbit society.
She could not conceal the bitterness in her voice when she asked, "I am right, aren't I? Do not deny it."
The Thain's voice was sad and serious as he replied, "Yes, but not by my choice. There are appearances to consider, as a girl of your intelligence obviously knows. Lalia died while under your care and the family can not be seen to take that lightly or to excuse what many are sure to think of as your negligence. You must leave the Great Smials and return to Whitwell at the first available opportunity. You will not be invited to Lalia's funeral or my investiture as Thain. Did you know that, although I was Thain in name, my mother denied me the power and ceremonies? It will be a while before you are able to attend events here at the Great Smials. However, I believe your birthday is approaching.
There was a twinkle in Ferumbras' eyes and the old hobbit pulled a gleaming object out of his right pocket. It was a beautiful necklace of pearls. They were very large, the largest examples of her name jewel that Pearl had ever seen. They were in dispersed with gems of a light green color that compliments Pearl's hazel eyes wonderfully.
"Oh," she gasped, "They are beautiful! Surely they are too fine for me. Do you really mean to give them to me?"
"Of course I do," he replied gently, "I have no daughter or granddaughter. I have no wife. You are the eldest Took lass of your generation. You should have them. Your father will be Thain after me and your brother after him."
"But why," asked Pearl in a shaky voice, "would you give such a gift to me? It was my fault..."
The Thain interrupted impatiently, "For the last time, lass, it is not your fault. Also, do you think I enjoyed the company of my mother? Nothing I could do was every good enough for her or seemed to please her in any way. She was my mother and I saw the rare instances when her harshness subsided. I do mourn her. However, I have found that I never really knew her."
Pearl was perplexed and asked, "What do you mean."
Ferumbras explained, "I was looking through her papers. She saved all her letters and kept a diary. She was always very organized and thorough. In these manuscripts, I found out the reason for her animus toward Frodo. She fancied Bilbo Baggins but he would have nothing to do with her."
Pearl's mouth gaped in surprise. That did explain quite a lot. A woman like Lalia would not have taken rejection well and would certainly have disliked any member of the Baggins family on principle. She did not have to ask why Lalia had treated her so badly. Lalia had only one son and no grandchildren. Her line was ending, would end when Ferumbras died. Pearl's family would supplant them.
Before Ferumbras could continue, a loud voice interrupted the conversation and Merry and Pippin rushed into the room. The lads looked terrified and guilty.
"Hide us, Pearl," begged a distraught Merry.
"Please," exhorted Pippin.
Pearl smiled and said, "Not a chance, lads. I will vouch for your good intentions, though, and stand by you."
The voice belonged to Esmeralda Brandybuck. "Meriadoc Brandybuck," she shouted, "I know you are there. Come here this instant! I was so worried. How dare you run off like that! When I get my hands on you..."
"Ah," said Ferumbras, "I believe Mistress Brandybuck has come to collect these lads. Good. Frodo may be good enough to delay his trip to Brandy Hall and escort you to Whitwell. We will continue our discussion later, Pearl, or I shall send you post."
Pearl was thrilled to be going home and especially to be doing so in the company of her cousin. She was eager to find out if Ferumbras had any other revelations.
Pearl looked with consternation at Ferumbras. She wondered what the Thain was going to say to her. She had not spoken much with him and he certainly had not discussed his relationship wit his mother with her. She wondered what being raised by Lalia and kept under her control until he was an old man must have been like. The girl shuddered at this thought.
Ferumbras sighed and said, "Don't worry, child. I do not blame you. You have shown great fortitude by enduring Lalia with as much grace as you did. I am just surprise that something like this did not happen earlier."
Despite herself, Pearl began to cry and said, "I am so sorry, Thain Ferumbras. I know it was an accident but it still took a life. I took a life through my carelessness. I know I will be shunned."
Ferumbras, to Pearl's surprise, looked guilty and did not meet her eyes. She knew that meant her surmise was correct, as she knew it was, but that he was unhappy about what he must do to fulfill the expectations of Hobbit society.
She could not conceal the bitterness in her voice when she asked, "I am right, aren't I? Do not deny it."
The Thain's voice was sad and serious as he replied, "Yes, but not by my choice. There are appearances to consider, as a girl of your intelligence obviously knows. Lalia died while under your care and the family can not be seen to take that lightly or to excuse what many are sure to think of as your negligence. You must leave the Great Smials and return to Whitwell at the first available opportunity. You will not be invited to Lalia's funeral or my investiture as Thain. Did you know that, although I was Thain in name, my mother denied me the power and ceremonies? It will be a while before you are able to attend events here at the Great Smials. However, I believe your birthday is approaching.
There was a twinkle in Ferumbras' eyes and the old hobbit pulled a gleaming object out of his right pocket. It was a beautiful necklace of pearls. They were very large, the largest examples of her name jewel that Pearl had ever seen. They were in dispersed with gems of a light green color that compliments Pearl's hazel eyes wonderfully.
"Oh," she gasped, "They are beautiful! Surely they are too fine for me. Do you really mean to give them to me?"
"Of course I do," he replied gently, "I have no daughter or granddaughter. I have no wife. You are the eldest Took lass of your generation. You should have them. Your father will be Thain after me and your brother after him."
"But why," asked Pearl in a shaky voice, "would you give such a gift to me? It was my fault..."
The Thain interrupted impatiently, "For the last time, lass, it is not your fault. Also, do you think I enjoyed the company of my mother? Nothing I could do was every good enough for her or seemed to please her in any way. She was my mother and I saw the rare instances when her harshness subsided. I do mourn her. However, I have found that I never really knew her."
Pearl was perplexed and asked, "What do you mean."
Ferumbras explained, "I was looking through her papers. She saved all her letters and kept a diary. She was always very organized and thorough. In these manuscripts, I found out the reason for her animus toward Frodo. She fancied Bilbo Baggins but he would have nothing to do with her."
Pearl's mouth gaped in surprise. That did explain quite a lot. A woman like Lalia would not have taken rejection well and would certainly have disliked any member of the Baggins family on principle. She did not have to ask why Lalia had treated her so badly. Lalia had only one son and no grandchildren. Her line was ending, would end when Ferumbras died. Pearl's family would supplant them.
Before Ferumbras could continue, a loud voice interrupted the conversation and Merry and Pippin rushed into the room. The lads looked terrified and guilty.
"Hide us, Pearl," begged a distraught Merry.
"Please," exhorted Pippin.
Pearl smiled and said, "Not a chance, lads. I will vouch for your good intentions, though, and stand by you."
The voice belonged to Esmeralda Brandybuck. "Meriadoc Brandybuck," she shouted, "I know you are there. Come here this instant! I was so worried. How dare you run off like that! When I get my hands on you..."
"Ah," said Ferumbras, "I believe Mistress Brandybuck has come to collect these lads. Good. Frodo may be good enough to delay his trip to Brandy Hall and escort you to Whitwell. We will continue our discussion later, Pearl, or I shall send you post."
Pearl was thrilled to be going home and especially to be doing so in the company of her cousin. She was eager to find out if Ferumbras had any other revelations.